Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the many speakers for their detailed opening statements and submissions. This is a significant issue for many parents and families. Several speakers referred to the late Donogh O'Malley's commitment to free education, which is being seriously undermined. I do not believe we truly have a system of free primary or secondary education. I do not blame the schools for that. There are things I would like to see them do differently but the fundamental problem is the underfunding of primary and secondary schools.

In my experience - perhaps Barnardos or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will contradict me here - the most significant cost is books, followed by uniforms, voluntary contributions and, in some schools, technology. The Department and various schools are attempting to assist families and students but these efforts are inconsistent in their application and vary from school to school. The application of the schoolbook scheme can vary greatly and requires review. Such assistance is often concentrated, with some of the best schemes concentrated in areas of greatest disadvantage. This is right and sensible. It is the response of schools to the communities in which they exist. However, increasingly, one sees a change in the nature of disadvantage. One sees more dispersed disadvantage. In areas that are ostensibly prosperous one can still have families who are under serious pressure with school costs. Such families have children in schools that do not favour schoolbook schemes or offer the same supports. I offer those as initial observations.

My first question, on the parent and student charter, can be answered by any of the speakers. There has been some discussion about what the charter might involve. I am sure there are many other areas in which the organisations present, particularly the management organisations, seek action. In the specific area of policies on uniforms, book schemes and so forth, what measures should be included in the parent and student charter legislation, which would have a real impact on costs? Would they include, for example, an obligation on schools to have regard to the impact on students of school uniforms?

I have a specific question for Mr. Curtis. I have a concern on which he may be able to reassure me.

He identified this issue of bringing one's own device. Although I am not familiar with schools that operate this scheme, I am concerned that if there is an expectation to provide a device, there will be a cost implication because not every family has a device. Even when a family has a device, a child might feel embarrassed that his or her device is a ten year old laptop, as opposed to the very latest tablet. I am sure Mr. Curtis has given thought to this issue and he might be in a position to respond.

We have not discussed uniforms much but perhaps school boards of management, the JMB, the education and training boards and the CPSMA could examine the issue. While some schools have done great work in ensuring that as much of the uniform as possible is generic but other schools require a unique shirt or blazer and so on. That is a major obligation and place serious pressure on families. Do the witnesses have views on how we might further tackle that issue and ensure that as much of the uniform as possible is generic in order to reduce the cost implication? To address the panel as a whole, in the North schoolbooks are free. Is that what we need to work towards? It is the case in many jurisdictions.

I have a final example that I meant to outline at the outset In addition to reducing costs, every family needs some help. Fewer than a third of families get the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. I am familiar with a family in which one parent is working and one is not. The working parent works for a multinational but is relatively low paid. The family were over the threshold by €7 or €8 and received no assistance. They have a child going into the leaving certificate year, which involves great costs. That is really difficult. I am sure the schools are doing their best to help such families but they deserve more support from the State. We need to tackle the issue of cost in addition to providing more support.